Game



June 5, 1934.

o. E. MARTINSQN 1,961,155

GAME

Filed. Nov. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 42 W J I ELL \IZII I I 48 4 7 INVENTOR.

01a 5. Narzz'nsozz www ATTORNEY.

June 5, 1934. o. E. MARTINSON 1,961,155

GAME

Filed NOV. 18, 1951 2 SheetsSheet 2 FI'G. 7

. INVENTOR. 01a 51 Martmson ATTORNEY.

Patented June 5, 1 934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE My invention relates to a game, the object of which is to acquire skilled efficiency in ball bat manipulation.

A further object of my invention is to pro- R vide a field arrangement and destiny for a ball and a catapult mechanism to throw the same convenient to a batter.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a catapult manually or mechanically operl ated.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means for the return of the ball from its destiny to the catapult point of action.

A still further object of my invention is to i '15 provide a trough as guiding means for one or a plurality of balls aligned, and means to consecutively throw the same, one at a time for batting.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a plurality of apertures of varying value with respect to counts in the game and an audible means when the ball enters any one of the apertures.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings;

Fig. l is a side view of the catapult, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section, taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the method of operating the catapult mechanically.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view. of the detent and ball seating element, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the background of goal partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a side view of Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the game structure.

My invention herein disclosed consists of a catapult comprising in detail a base member 1 on which a U shaped standard 2 is vertically positioned and firmly secured thereto; rockably arranged near the lower end portion of the U shaped standard, and pivotally carried thereby 50 is a lever 3; the lever having a bifurcation A, the

legs of which extend toward their respective legs of the said U shaped standard, at which points they pivotally engage through the medium of a cross-rod 4. The said cross-rod also engages through an aperture of the lever that is centrally positioned between the outer ends of the bifurcation and on each is a hook B, to which one end of a spring element 5 will engage respectively.

The end of each spring is attached to their 59 respective ends of a yoke 6, the said yoke having a stem 7 centrally connected, the outer end of which slidably engages through the aperture of a plate 8 that is secured to the end of the said base member 1. I

The outer end of the stem is threaded to receive a nut 9 threadedly engaging thereon, by which means the lever is tensioned to rock violently in one direction for the purpose later described.

As a means to lock the lever in a set position and to release the same, I have arranged a jointed rule-back trigger consisting of a lower member 10, and means to pivotally attach the same to the base member 1; and an upper member 11, 70 which pivotally engages with the lever 3, the said members pivotally engaging at their inner adjacent ends, and arranged to break one way only, by reason of the contact of the rule-back joint, asat'C.

A small cable 13 is attached in close proximity to the center joint of the said rule-back trigger, while the other end is connected to a crank 13 integral with a rod 14 arranged to turn in a bearing 14' by a foot pedal 14 on the outer end of the said rod when pressed downward to break the rule b'ack joint. The center portion of the trigger is started outwards and is free to collapse as the adjacent end of the lever thereto is forced downward by the tension of springs 5, causing the other end of the lever to function as tossing means for a ball as follows:

Vertically positioned and secured to base member 1, is a sleeve 15, in working relation to the outer end of the lever which loops around as shown at D, and having diametrically passed therethrough a bolt 16 engaging in a slot 16 in the looped portion, by which means a plunger 17 is carried and adapted to telescopically engage with the sleeve; the said sleeve has a pair of slots diametrically positioned and longitudinally "extending thereof, along which the said bolt will travel reciprocatingly.

Positioned on the upper end of the plunger is an annular ring 18, functioning as a seat for a ball therein and discharged therefrom by an upper thrust of the plunger, by the means previously described.

Positioned on the upper end of the plunger is a cap 19, having a lug 20, on the outer side there- 110 of, on which the annular ring will rest, and oppositely positioned to the lug is an ear 21, to which the ring is pivotally attached at the intersection of its arms 22, the outer end of the arms pivotally engaging with the upper end of a link 23, as carrying means therefor.

The lower end of the link has an elongated slot 24, to engage on a pin secured to the lever, the said lever being slotted for the link to slidably engage longitudinally as rocked by the annular seat element when the ball is thrown therefrom. Ihe rocking movement is to incline the travel of the ball toward the apertured wall of the game structure.

Rockably carried by the end of the trough 26 adjacent to the plunger is a detent 27, one end of which is slotted to engage on the shaft of the link, and being tensioned upward by a weight 28 for close engagement with the underside of the arm elements of the seat by which means the said detent is rocked by the reciprocating movement of the lever and plunger carried thereby for consecutive delivery of the balls from the trough to the seat.

The detent has an upturned portion as at E to engage between the first two balls when the said plunger is forced downward, by which means the remainder of the balls within the trough are stopped until the first ball is tossed upward as a throw for the batter, the remainder of the balls are likewise released passing in consecutive order over the arms 22 into the seat which is axially aligned with the plunger when the said plunger is forced downward by placing the foot on the tongue 29 that is secured to the outer end of the lever, by which means the catapult is manually set and tripped by the means formerly described in repeated order and the balls automatically returning and placed in position consecutively.

At the elevated end of the trough I have arranged a field element 30 which has a wide expanse, but contracting at the point of intersection with the elevated end of the trough, the said field is preferably made of canvas and has a horizontally positioned incline toward the trough for the return of balls delivered by the participant of the game. Vertically positioned and axially aligned with the range of the trough with respect to a central portion thereof, is a flexible wall 31 that is preferably made of canvas and. a second wall 32 spaced a short distance rearwardly of the first wall as a stop means for a ball when driven through any one of the apertures 33 arranged in the first said wall. When the ball is thus delivered it is free to drop downward to the field and return as previously described. It being understood that the lower edge of wall 31 is spaced upward from the field suflicient for balls to pass thereunder.

The said walls above described are vertically supported and spaced apart by a post element 34 at each side thereof, the said posts also function as carrying means for the side rails 35 to which the field canvas is attached and the said rails are intermediately supported by legs 36.

The game structure thus arranged is portable and adaptable to play-grounds or other locations such as game-rooms.

The wall member 32 is adapted to flex under the force of a ball contacting therewith which occurs when the ball is driven through one of the apertures, and when thus flexed, the vibration of the wall will actuate a bell 37 positioned in working relation thereto, the arrangement of which is thru the medium of a pair of bars 38 transversely crossing each other, the bell being secured at the intersection of the bars and pendently carried by a leaf spring 39.

The position of each bar is aligned in registry with their respective rows of apertures and being so arranged, a ball will contact with the bar element regardless which aperture is penetrated.

Positioned above the trough and carried by the supporting means thereof is a canvas trough like element 40, slanting toward the field, the purpose of which is to catch a ball that the batter has failed to strike and convey the same to the field in close proximity to the end of the trough there beneath and return.

As a mechanical operating means for the catapult I havearranged a pair of disc elements 41 mounted on a shaft 42 that is trunnioned on bearings 43, positioned on base member 1. On the outer end of the said shaft is positioned a gear 44, shown by dotted line, the gear being enclosed by a housing 45 seated on the said base member; also a motor 46 having a worm 4'? on a shaft thereof that is in mesh with the gear as rotating means for the disks; the said disks being spaced apart and being joined by a pin 48 near the peripheral edge thereof, by which means at each rotation of the disks, the pin will pick up the adjacent end. of the catapult lever 3 and release the same for the plunger thrust.

The above described mechanical means for the catapult will necessitate the removal of the trigger and manipulating means, therefor substituting in its place a removable hook-like element 49, and a rubber bumper 50, placed on the base, and on which the lever will engage in its downward stroke.

In playing the game herein set forth, the object will be to drive the ball by the use of an ordinary bat, when the ball is tossed upward and slightly toward the field, directing the same by the stroke toward the desired aperture in the wall; each of the said apertures having a number of different denomination similar to that shown in Figure 6, and through which the ball must pass for the number of points gained by the contestants.

Such modifications may be employed as lie within the scope of the appended claim, and having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

In a game, a ball tossing means comprising a trough, a pivotally mounted lever, and a spring to rock the same in one direction, a rule back trigger to support one end of the lever against the tension of the spring, means to trip the same, a slotted sleeve and a plunger telescopically engaging therein, the other end of the lever having a pin passing through said slot of the sleeve secured to the plunger, the pin adapted to vertically slide in the slot of the sleeve when the end of the lever carrying the same is moved downward to a set position of the rule back trigger, a seat rockably mounted on the upper end of the plunger and so located relative to said trough as to receive balls therefrom when in its lower position and to upwardly direct the balls when the trigger is thrown.

OLA E. MAR'I'INSON. 

